Windmill



April 1930- v. s. HOLLINGSWORTH 1,752,847

WINDMILL Filed June 20, 1928 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l HH/H- Wrneys' April 1, 1930. v. s. HOLLINGSWORTH WINDMILL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1928 Patented Apr. 1 1930 outrun fsTA-TEs PATENT:- OFFICE VALORUS si'nommeswon'rrr, orLos :ANGEIQES, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNon or Omani H To IRA M. nonmnsswonrn, or nos ANGELES, CALIFORNIA WINDMILL Application filed June 20,

This invention relates to windmills and has for anobjectthe provision of an im-' proved type of power take-off from a shaft I rotated by a wind driven wheel.

5 Another object is the provision of a wind mill wherein the power take-off from the shaft upon which the wheel is mounted is composed of a geared connection. Accordingly when the wheel shaft is rotated to exert a torque 'upon the take-up shaft a countertorque is exerted against the wheel shaft which tends to rotate the wheel shaft about an axis through the center of the take-off shaft, resulting in removing the wheel from that position in which the wheel isenabled to transform the maximum amount of energy of the wind into mechanical energy. Another feature of my invention, therefore, is the provision of means for locking the wheel shaft against any movement other than rotation about its own longitudinal axis.

Another object is the provision of locking means as above described which'are adapted to be released by the rudder vane of the windmill when the vane is forced out of alignment with the wheel shaft as a result of shifting of the wind and which is adapted to be automatically reset when the rudder vane again brings the fan into position of maximum efficiency.

' A still further object is the provision of a windmill comprising a wheel mounted upon a horizontal shaft which is connected by gear ing to a vertical shaft from which the power taken from the wind may be delivered to performany useful work and-in which the horizontal shaft is provided with a clutch by means of whichthe two shafts optionally may be connected or disconnected to permit the wheel to transmit its power to thevertical shaft or to permit the wheel to idle.

'The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of thepreferred form'of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do, not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description as I may 1928.' Serial No. 286,838.-

I in the scope. of my inventionas, set forthin the claims.

Referring to thedrawings Figure '1 is a side elevation of a windmill and the upper portion of its supporting tower showing the improved structure embodying myinvention in actual operation; L. I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view slightly enlarged, portions of the wheel and rudder vane being broken away to reduce the lengthof the figure; I Fig. 3 is a vertical-medial sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 2; r Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the line 4-41 of Fig. 3with the direction of view indicated by the arrows. g

In terms of broad inclusion the device of the present invention comprises meansfor locking against rotary movement the frame upon which the wheel shaft of a windmill is journaled, these locking means being adapted to be released by the rudder vane of the windmill when the wind or other air current driving the vane veers. Accordingly the device finds a particular field of utility in per mitting the power takeoff from the windmill to be connected to the wheel shaft by gearing since the locking device prevents the countertorque of the power take-off from turning the wheel out of the wind. Another feature of my invention isthe provision of a clutch adapted to automatically disengage the cam shaft'from the take-off shaft to permit the wheelto idle; I

Specifically describing the invention in its preferred embodiment, the figures disclose a frame 6 mounted for revolution about a vertical axis'upon a suitable supporting structure such as a tower 7. A vertically disposed 9'6 sleeve 8 is rigidly attached to the top of the tower,within which another sleeve 9 is journaled, this latter sleeve being preferably in tegral with the frame 6. Journals 11 and 12 at the front and back respectively of the 96 frame 6 provide means for mounting a horizontal wheel shaft 13, on the forward end of which'a. plurality of vanes 14 are mounted to' form the wind wheel 16, it being understood that the configuration oftlievanes-M 100 is such that when the Wheel 16 is headed into the wind, that is, placed in such a position vided between the shaft17 and sleeve 9 to form a better bearing surface. A beveled gear 19 is carried by the shaft 17 adjacent its upper end preferably immediately below the wheel shaft 13. This gear 19 is enmeshed with a driving gear 21 which is mounted for rotation upon the wheel shaft 13.

A sleeve 22 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement upon the shaft 13 but is prevented from rotary movement in respect theretoby a pin 23 rigidwith the shaft 13 and extending through longitudinally extending slots 24 in the sleeve 22. A cone 26 is rigidly connected to the sleeve 22 and has a friction lining 27 thereupon adapted to seat within the tapered bore 28 provided in a flange 29 which is rigidly connected to the gear 21. Thus it may bewseen that a clutch is provided by means of which the power take-off shaft 17 optionally may be connected to the wheel shaft 13 to be rotated thereby or disconnected therefrom to permit idling of the wheel shaft 13 without consequent rotation of the take-off shaft 17. A spring 31 under compression between the journal 12 andthe sleeve 22 normally retains the clutch engaged.

Afiange 36 formed on the after end of the sleeve 22 provides a shoulder 37 against which a finger 38 projecting from a plate 39, is heldby a spring 41 under tension between t the finger 38 and a portion 42 of the frame 6.

The plate 39 is slidable longitudinally upon the frame 6, being held in sliding engagement therewith by a screw 43 which extends through a slot 44 in the Jlate 39 adjacent its forward end, to be threaded into the frame 6. The after end of the plate 39 is guided by extendingthrough an aperture 46 in the portion 42 of, the frame 6. The spring 31 is heavier than the spring 41, with the result that the clutch is normally held engaged and the plate 39 is normally retained at the forward'extreme of its movement. Consequently, the only function of the lighter spring 31,

3 is to take up any lost motion which may de velop between the clutch and the plate 39.

"Arudder vane 51 is pivotally attached to the after end of the frame. For this purpose thefportion 42 of the frame 6 is bent forward as at 52; and the upper arm 53 with which the rudder vane 51 is provided, has a pivot pin 54 seated in the forward extending por tion 52 of the frame 6. The lower arm 56 hasanother pin 57 extending upwards to seat within the frame 6 in alignment with the pin limit of its movement.

54, permitting the rudder 51 to swing about a vertical axis in respect to the frame 6.

A cam 61 is pivoted to the sliding plate 39 with a screw 62 or its equivalent, the point of attachment being aft of the portion 42 and the contour of the cam 61 being such that whenthe arm 63, with which the cam 61 is provided, extends straight back from the frame 6 the plate 39 is slid to the forward The cam 61 is provided, however, with a shoulder 64 upon each sideso that when the arm 63 is swung out of alignment with the frame 6 one of the shoulders 64 engages the portion 42 of the frame 6 and pulls the sliding plate 39 rearwards against the action of the spring 31, causing the finger 38 to slide the sleeve 22 and disengage the: clutch.

The arm 63 is bifurcated at its outer end 66 for the sliding reception of the lower arm 56 of the rudder vane 51. As a result when the rudder vane 51' is swung out of alignment with the shaft 13, the cam 61 is swung to such position that one of its shoulders 64 engages the frame 6 and pulls the plate 39 rean wards, releasing the clutch.

Accordingly an arm 67 extends transversely from the rudder vane 51; and a cord 68 or other flexible member is attached to the outer end of the arm 67 and passes over the sheave 69 of apulley to extend to a point adjacent the bottom of the tower 7 so that by pulling upon the lower end of the cord 68 the rudder vane may be swung to one side, causing the wheel 16 to beswung out of the wind and causing the disengagement of the clutch.

A gear 71 or its equivalent is attached rig:

idly to the top of the tower 7; and another finger 72 extends rigidly from the sliding plate 39 through a slot 73 in the frame 6 and is engageable between any two of the teeth of the gear 71. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that when the sliding plate 39 is at the forward extreme with its movement the finger 72 is in engagement with the gear 71, and when the sliding plate 39 has been withdrawnto the after extreme of its movement the finger 72 is disengaged from the gear 71. Hence, when the rudder vane 51 is in alignment with the shaft13, or in other words,

when the rudder vane 51 is in position to hold the'wheel 16 in that position in which the wheel may convert the maximum amount of energy of the wind into mechanical energy, the frame 6 is locked against rotary movement, resulting in the Wheel being held against moving out of its position of maximum efficiency. Thus the tendency of the counter torque from the take off shaft 17 to rotate the frame 6 and the wheel 16 away from its position of maximum efficiency is overcome. However, when the wind veers, the rudder vane 51 will be swung to one side,resulting in the sliding of the plate 39 rearwards as described above. Thus the finger 72 is similarly withdrawn, disengaging the stationary gear 71 and releasing the frame 6 for free rotary movement. Because of the factthat that portion of the cam having the shortest radius is disposed against the portion 42 of the frame 6 when that shortest radius is in alignment with the shaft 13, the tendency of the spring 31 to slide the plate 39 forward, will result in pressing a shoulder eccentrically against the frame with such force that the frame will be turned to again head the wheel into the wind.

Since disengagement of the clutch is effected simultaneously with disengagement of the finger 72 from the gear 71, the connection between the wheel shaft and the take-off shaft is broken during the time that the rudder,

vane is again heading the wheel 16 into the wind. If this were not the case, more resistance to the action of the rudder vane would be offered, since the rotation of the gear 21 about the gear 19 which occurs when the frame 6 is turned and the take-off shaft held stationary, would cause rotation of either one or the other of the shafts during such movement of the frame 6.

I claim:

1. In a windmill a frame mounted upon a supporting structure for rotary movement in respect thereto about a vertical axis, a shaft journaledhorizontally in said frame, a wheel carried by said shaft and adapted to be rotated by an air current when said shaft is substantially in parallelism with the direction of said current power transmitting means releasably connected to said shaft, a vertically disposed rudder carried by said frame whereby the frame is moved by the force of the air current to bring the shaft into parallelism with the direction of the current, a detent carried by said frame and adapted to releasably lock the frame to said supporting structure, and means operable by said rudder for withdrawing said detent from engaging position, and means operable by said rudder for releasing said power transmitting means.

2. In a windmill a frame mounted upon a supporting structure for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a shaft journaled horizontally in said frame, a wheel carried by said shaft and adapted to be rotated by an air current when said shaft is substantially in parallelism with the direction of said current, a driven member, releasable means for transmitting power from said shaft to said driven member, a vertically disposed rudder pivoted to said frame whereby the frame is moved by: the force of said current to bring the shaft into parallelism with the direction of the current, a detent carried by said frame and adapted to releasably lock the frame to said supporting structure, an arm pivoted to said frame and extending therefrom to engage. the rudder, a cam operably connected to said arm and operatively connected to said detent to move the detent from engaging'position when the rudder swings-from alignment with said shaft, and means. for automatically releasing said power transmitting means as the detent is moved fromiengaging position.

'3. Ina: windmill a' frame mounted for I'0 tary movement about a vertical axis, a shaft journaled horizontally in said frame, a driv-i ing gear revolubly mounted upon said shaft, a clutch associated therewith optionally to lock the gear to the shaftto rotate therewith or to release the gear to rotate thereupon, a second shafti extending from said horizontal shaft, a driving gear affixed to said second shaft and enmeshed with said driving gear, a wheel aflixed to said horizontal shaft, means operable by'an air current for heading the wheel into said current and means operable by said heading means for disengaging the clutch. t V

i 4. In a windmill a frame mounted for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a shaft journaled horizontally in said frame, a driving gear revolubly mounted upon said shaft, a clutch associated therewith optionally to lock the gear to the shaft torotate therewith or to release the gear torotate thereupon, a second shaft extending'from said horizontal shaft, a driving gear affixed to said second shaft and enmeshedwith said driving gear, a wheel aflixed to said horizontal shaft, a. vertically disposed rudder pivoted to the frame and' adapted to swing said wheelinto that pO-' sition in which it may receive the maximum impulse from an air current, and means operable by said rudder for disengaging the clutch when the rudder is swung from that position in which it heads the wheel into the air current. a

- 5; In a windmill a frame mounted for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a shaft journaled horizontally, in said frame, adriving gear revolubly mounted upon said shaft, a clutch associated therewith optionally to lock the gear to the shaft to rotate therewith or to release the gear to rotate thereupon, a second shaft extending from said horizontal shaft, a drivinggear aflixedto said second shaft and enmeshed with said driving gear, a Wheel affixed tosaid horizontal shaft, a vertically disposed rudder pivoted to the frame and adapted to swing said wheel into that po 'sition in which it may receive the maximum impulse from an air, current, a pivotally mounted armengaged with said rudder and a cam associated therewith, said cambeing operatively connected to said clutch to dis: engage the clutch when the rudderswings'the arm to either side.

6. In a windmill a frame mounted upon a stationary support for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a shaft journaled horizontallyin said frame, a driving gear revolubly mounted upon said shaft, a clutch associated therewith optionally to lock the gear to the shaft to rotate therewith or to release the gear to rotate thereupon, a second shaft extending from said horizontal shaft, a driving gear affixed to said second shaft and enr meshed with said driving gear, a wheel affixedtosaid horizontal shaft to rotate the horizontal shaft when driven by an air current, and remote control means for disengaging saidclutch.

1o 7 In a Windmill aframemounted upon a stationary support for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a shaft journaled horizontally in said frame, a driving gear revolubly mounted upon said shaft, a clutch as sociated therewith optionally to lock the gear tothe shaft torotate therewith or to release the gear to rotate thereupon, a second shaft extending from said horizontal shaft, a driving gear affixed to said second shaft and enmeshed with said driving gear, a wheel aflixed to said horizontal shaft to rotate the horizontal shaft when driven by an air current, a vertically disposed rudderfpivoted to the frame and adapted to swing said wheel into that position in which it may receive the maximum impulse from the air current, means operable by said rudder for disengagingthe clutch when the rudder is swung from that position in which it heads the wheel into the air current, and

remote control means for swinging said rudder to disengage the clutch.

8. In a windmilla frame mounted upon a stationary support for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a shaft journaled horizontally in said frame, a driving gear revolubly mounted upon said shaft, a clutch associated therewith optionally to lock the gear to the shaft to rotate therewith or to release the gear to rotate thereupon, a second shaft extending from said horizontal shaft, a driving gear aflixed to said second shaft and enmeshed with said driving gear, a wheel affixed to said horizontal'shaft to rotate the horizontal shaft when driven by an air ourrent, a vertically disposed rudder pivoted to the frame and adapted to swing said wheel I intothat position in whichit may receive the maximum impulse from the air current, meansoperable by said rudder for disengaging theclutch when the rudder is swung from that position in which it heads the wheel into the air current, a detent carried by said frame andadapted to releasably lock the frame to the stationary structure,:and means operably connected to the rudder and operatively connected to the detent to move the detent to releasing position when the rudder is swung to disengage the clutch.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

YALO-RUS S, HOLLINGSWORTH. 

